We will work to achieve an empowered school system, with participation at all levels including parents, pupils and teachers.
A revised School Improvement Framework has been developed with input from key stakeholders. The original delivery date for this piece of work has slipped but we expect to report to Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers in November 2024 and Education and Families Committee thereafter.
Participative Democracy Certification (PDC) provides accreditation for secondary pupils participating in representative roles in their school communities such as Pupil Councils (or equivalents). It is a method of recognising and rewarding young people’s involvement in decision-making, specifically aimed at the youth work sector and offers two credits at SCQF level 5 for participants. It provides a useful structure for meaningful participation for young people in their schools, getting them to research issues affecting them, consult peers and present to school senior management on their findings. In 2022, 25 young people were awarded PDCs from Anderson High and Aith Junior High School. As well as accreditation, each secondary school/department in Shetland currently has a participation forum either facilitated by staff in school or partnered with Youth and Employability staff.
81% of Shetland respondents in the Scottish Household Survey said that they were satisfied with the quality of schools, which was the fifth highest in Scotland.